Spencer voters OK override for schools

SPENCER — Residents of Spencer and East Brookfield can take their votes on an override for the school department to the privacy of the ballot box.

As East Brookfield voters did on Monday, Spencer voters Thursday night approved their share of a $2,086,697 Proposition 2½ override.

Spencer will fund $1,681,094 if the measure is again approved at special elections in both communities.

The money is needed to fund the proposed fiscal 2014 budget for the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District, which is just under $25 million. Voters earlier this year turned down a request for a larger override.

School officials have since trimmed their request, while interim Superintendent Edward Malvey assured voters they will have "a good solid, core academic program" with the new reduced budget.

The state has ordered the two towns use a 1/12 budget, operating month by month on a percentage of the originally requested budget.

The school department recently borrowed $2 million to pay bills and manage cash flow until Dec. 1. If no budget is in place by then, the state will take over the district and set a budget for the towns.